Zacks.com: Analyst Blog

Here we cite the following auto companies: Nissan (NSANY), Honda Motor Co. (HMC), Daimler AG (DAI), Ford Motor Co. (F), Toyota Motors (TM) and General Motors Corp. (GM).

On the flipside of senior equity analyst Paul Raman, CFA's notes on the San Diego Auto Show, we now cast the spotlight toward where auto companies might need to make near-term improvements. Most if not all companies will be looking to make strategic acquisitions and/or joint ventures to increase their global positions.

SUBARU (Forester, Outback, Impreza, Legacy, Tribeca)
This company is owned by Fuji Heavy Industries.
Overall, this product line has an SUV focus, but vehicles have too much plastic, in our opinion. 
Models that should be discontinued - Impreza.

NISSAN
Murano - Sales are off 10%, but this a 21 MPG vehicle that has 4/5 star safety and a nice interior. It is a crossover and has 100% Japanese content. This vehicle is rather pricey, ranging from $29K-41K. 
Models that should be discontinued - Maxima.
Models that should be consolidated - Pathfinder with Armada with XTerra; Frontier with Titan

INFINITI
This company is owned by Nissan.
In general, we feel these vehicles have low gas mileage, are expensive, and the interiors need improvement.
Models that should be consolidated - G37S with M45; FX35 with EX35

HONDA
CRV - Sales are down 7% for this crossover. The interior needs improvement. Smog emissions are average, and there is 23 MPG and the price is $25K. There is 4/5 star safety and 50% US content and 35% Japanese content.
Pilot - Sales are down 17% for this SUV. The interior needs improvement and there is not enough leg room. Gas mileage is 20 MPG with average smog emissions. There is 4/5 star safety and the price is $28-34K. There is 70% US content.
Odyssey - Sales are down 16% for this van that has 21 MPG. The interior is nice, but there is not enough legroom. The price is $34-41K. There is 4/5 star safety and 80% US content. Smog emissions are average.
Models that should be discontinued - S2000, Element

ACURA
This company is owned by Honda.
Overall, we feel this line is overpriced and interiors need improvement.
Models that should be consolidated - TSX with RL with TL; RDX with MDX

DAIMLER
E-Class (Mercedes Benz) - Sales are down 14% for this classy looking car. There is a retro interior, but not enough leg room. Mileage is 18 MPG and the price is $53-63K.
Smart Car - This costs $18K and has mileage of 37 MPG. There is not enough leg room, the interior needs an upgrade, and safety is only 3/5 stars. Emissions are average, and 44% of content is from Germany while 35% is from Japan.
Models that should be consolidated - GL with ML
Models that should be discontinued - SL63, S550, SL550, GLK, CL, R

MAZDA
Mazda 3 - Sales are down 6% for this sporty hatchback that gets 25 MPG and is 95% Japan sourced. The cost is $20-25K and there is 4-star safety. The interior is retro-designed. Emissions are 40% lower than the average car.
Mazda 6 - Sales are down 6% for this stylish car with a retro interior. 45% is from the US and 30% is from Japan. There is 5-star safety and the cost is $33K. Emissions are average, and mileage is 21 MPG.
Models that should be consolidated - CX9 and CX7 and Mazda 5

SUZUKI
Models that should be consolidated - XL7 and Grand Vitara

VOLKSWAGEN
Models that should be consolidated - Passat and EO3 and CC; Toureg and Tiguan; GTI and Rabbit

AUDI
Models that should be consolidated - Q7 and A4; A8L and A6; TTS and R8

HYUNDAI
Sonata - Sales are down 2% for this rather plain car that emits 50% less pollution than average. There is not enough leg room. The cost is $20-25K, and mileage is 28 MPG.
Models that should be consolidated - Santa Fe and Veracruz and Tucson
Models that should be discontinued -  Azera; Genesis

KIA
Owned by Hyundai.
Spectra - Sales are down 2% for this car that costs $16K and gets 28 MPG. There is 4/5-star protection and 88% of content is Korean. The interior needs improvement and the car needs to be more sophisticated. There is not enough leg room.
Models that should be consolidated - Sportage and Rondo and Borrega and Sorrento; Optima and Amanti 

FORD
Mustang - Sales are down 28% for this 20 MPG sport car with 5-star protection and a $25K price tag. There is not enough leg room and the interior has a retro-focus.
F150 - Sales are down 26% for this very popular pickup that gets 18 MPG. Prices range from $30-40K. The interior is nice, and has a retro-focus.
Explorer - Sales are down 43% for this pickup that gets 17 MPG and costs $36K. There is 5 star protection.
Escape - Sales are down 3% for this 5-star protection SUV that costs $27K and gets 24 MPG. This SUV has a nice interior, but not enough leg room. There are 2 hybrid models. They get 33 MPG and cost $34K.
Edge - Sales are down 4% for this car that gets 21 MPG and costs $30-35K. There is a nice interior with plenty of room. There is 5-star protection.
Models that should be discontinued - Taurus, Ranger

LINCOLN
Owned by Ford.
Models that should be consolidated - MKZ and MKS and Sable and Milan; Navigator and Mariner

VOLVO
Volvo is owned by Ford.
Models that should be consolidated - XC70 and XC60; C30 and C90; S80 and C70 and S60 and S40
Models that should be discontinued - XC90

TOYOTA
Tundra - Sales are down 25% for this pickup with 15 MPG. Crash protection is only 3/4 stars, and the price is high, at $30-40K. The interior is nice, but the pickup is tough to get into.
Tacoma - Sales are down 14% for this pickup that gets 19 MPG. Crash protection is 4/5 stars, and the price is in the high 20s. The interior needs a major upgrade.
Highlander - Sales are down 12%. Mileage is 20 MPG, with a price in the low $30s. The interior is nice. There is a hybrid version that gets 26 MPG yet costs $47K.
Prius - Sales are down 5% for this hybrid that gets 47 MPG. The price is $25K and there is 4/5-star crash protection. There is not enough leg room and this car has a strange dashboard.
Camry - Sales are down 3% for this car that gets 25 MPG and costs $25-30K. The car has a nice interior and 4/5-star crash protection. There is a hybrid version that gets 34 MPG and costs $32K.
Sienna - Sales are down 11% for this van that gets 19 MPG. There is 4/5-star crash protection and the cost is high at $30-40K. The interior needs an upgrade.
Land Cruiser - Sales are down 12% for this large SUV that gets 16 MPG yet has a price tag over $70K. The interior is nice.
RAV4 - sales are down 19% for this crossover that gets 23 MPG. There is not enough legroom in this retro interior.  The cost is $25-30K with 4/5-star crash protection.
Corolla - Sales are down 4% for this car that gets 31 MPG and has 4/5-star protection. The interior needs an upgrade, but the price is $22K. There is not enough leg room.
Models that should be discontinued - Venza, 4Runner, FT Cruiser, Avalon

LEXUS
Owned by Toyota.
RX350 - Sales are down 18% for this crossover with 20 MPG that has 4/5-star safety yet costs $47K. The crossover is stylistic with a futuristic interior.
Models that should be consolidated - IS 250 and GS350 and IS350; ES350 and LS460; LX570 and GX470;
Models that should be discontinued - RX400; RX450

SCION
Owned by Toyota
Models that should be consolidated - XD and XB

BMW
3-Series - Sales are down 17% for this classy looking car with an excellent interior. The price is $37-44K. This is a very sporty vehicle.
Models that should be consolidated - X3 and X5
Models that should be discontinued - 135i, 550i, M5

CHEVROLET
Owned by General Motors.
Trailblazer - Sales are down 41% for this SUV. Gas mileage is only 15 MPG and crash rating is only 3/5 stars. The price is high, being $32-39K. Smog emissions are average. There is 85% US content.
Silverado - Sales are down 24%. It is a plain pickup with a nice interior and 18 MPG. There is 4/5-star safety and 75% US content. There are 2 ethanol and 1 hybrid versions in this product line.
Impala - Sales are down 16%. This car has a nice sporty interior, 22 MPG and 4/5 star safety rating. There is 85% US content, and a price of $31K. It is a classy looking car. There is a hybrid version that gets 30 MPG and costs $26K.
Tahoe - Sales are down 36%. There is not enough leg room. There is 65% US content and 27% Mexico content along with average emission levels. The price is high, at $57K. This gets 17 MPG and has a 5-star safety rating. A hybrid version is available.
HHR - Sales are down 3% for this crossover. The interior needs an upgrade. Content is 50% US and 39% Mexico. This costs $20K and gets 26 MPG. Emission levels are average and there is 4/5-star safety ratings.
Models that should be consolidated - Traverse and Equinox
Models that should be discontinued - Colorado, Avalanche, Suburban

HUMMER
Owned by General Motors.
Models that should be consolidated - H2 and H3

SAAB 
Owned by General Motors.
Models that should be consolidated - 93 and 95

GMC
This company is owned by General Motors.
Sierra - Sales are down 17% for this pickup that gets 17 MPG. The price is $28-33K. There is 4/5 star safety, and the interior needs improvement. There is 75% US and 18% Mexico content. Smog emissions are average. There are 3 flex fuel ethanol models available.
Models that should be discontinued - Canyon
Models that should be consolidated - Denali with Yukon with Acadia

PONTIAC
Owned by GM.
Models that should be consolidated - G3 with Vibe
Models that should be discontinued - G5

BUICK
This company is owned by General Motors.
Models that should be consolidated - Lucerne with Lacrosse

SATURN
This company is owned by General Motors.
Models that should be discontinued - Astra and Outlook

CADILLAC
This company is owned by General Motors.
Models that should be consolidated - Excalade with SRX; DTS with STS with CTS

CHRYSLER
300 - Sales are down 43%. This car gets 20 MPG and costs 35-40K. There is 4/5-star safety and 63% US content. Emissions levels are average, and the interior is plain and elegant.
Models that should be discontinued - Sebring

DODGE
Owned by Chrysler.
Ram - Sales are down 29% for this pickup with 53% US content and 18% Mexico content. Mileage is 17 MPG, and the price is $35-45K. Emissions levels are average, and the interior and dashboard are excellent.
Caliber - Sales are down 8% for this nifty car that gets 25 MPG and has a 4/5-star crash rating. There is 68% US content, and the price is $18K. The car is stylish and has a sporty interior. Emissions are average.
Charger - Sales are down 12% with a price tag of $26K and 21 MPG. This car emits smog at a rate of 30% above average. This is sporty looking both exterior and interior. There is 4/5-star safety and 60% US content.
Town and Country - Sales are down 7% for this plain interior vehicle with not enough leg room. There is 73% US content. Mileage is 20 MPG, and there is 4/5-star safety. Emission levels are average, and the price is $42K. There is a flex fuel version that gets 21 MPG and costs $30K.
Caravan/Grand Caravan - Sales down 22%. The interior needs and upgrade and there is not enough leg room. Smog emission levels are 50% above average. There is 73% US content and 4/5-star safety. The price is high, at $39K. Mileage is 21 MPG.
Models that should be discontinued -  Leer, Avenger, Sprinter, Durango

JEEP
This company is owned by Chrysler.
Grand Cherokee - Sales are down 38%. These SUVs get 16 MPG and cost $35K. There is 61% US content and 4/5-star safety. Interiors are nice. Emissions are 30% higher than average.
Wrangler - Sales are down 30%. The price is $25-35K. There is 57% US content and 4/5-star safety. The interior is retro, but needs an upgrade. There is not enough leg room and overall this vehicle has a unique look. Emissions are average.
Models that should be consolidated - Compass and Patriot and Liberty and Commander

Read the full analyst report on GM.

Read the full analyst report on F.

Read the full analyst report on TM.

Read the full analyst report on HMC.

Read the full analyst report on DAI.

Read the full analyst report on NSANY.